David Ortiz Launches Aria Wines

What do baseball stars do after retirement? If you’re former Boston Red Sox all-star David Ortiz, you start a wine line.

Arias is a wine with a bittersweet story. The wine is named after his mother, who died in a tragic car accident in 2002. His mother’s passing caused Ortiz much grief, and the wine is his inspirational message to give others strength. The wine label depicts two hands pointing upwards — the gesture Ortiz made after every home run. Arias “celebrates the rising of the human spirit …it encourages to overcome diversity…and inspires us to never quit; to be like the ‘tide and conquer every shore.'”

Arias is sourced out of the Paso Robles and Central Coast AVAs. Currently, the line consists of a 2014 Merlot, 2015 Chardonnay, 2015 Sauvignon Blanc, and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, all priced at $19.99. With the warmer Paso Robles climate, tasting notes allude to rich, ripe, fruit-forward aromas across both the reds and the whites. Interestingly, the Chardonnay actually has a small amount of Pinot Grigio blended in to lend more acidity and a refreshing finish. Those looking for something sweeter can turn to the Arias wine club, which includes semi-sweet, sweet, and dessert wines.

Logically, Arias is available only in Red Sox territories at the moment — Massachusetts, Upstate New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Out-of-state fans can purchase the wines online.

Technically, Arias isn’t Ortiz’s first wine endeavor. Ortiz launched a wine label, Vintage Papi, with CharityWines.com, to support the David Ortiz Children’s Fund. It’s clear Ortiz is a wine aficionado, and we can expect more from him in the future. To learn more about Arias wines, visit https://www.ariaswine.com.